Category: Community Stories

Featuring stories from real pet owners and resources for all thing pets

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Community Stories

Sharing Blessings, One Stuffed Toy at a Time

When Ivy first met Totto, she described it as the “first blessing” in her life. 

Her previous job as a preschool principal had been an incredibly stressful experience. When Totto came into her life and was subsequently brought into her care, her presence took Ivy away from her job. Taking care of Totto helped to alleviate the stress she felt during work. Playing with Totto also gave her the work-life balance she desperately needed.

Photo Credit: Instagram @totto_maltipoo

The joy she received from having Totto around her inspired her to start a pay-it-forward program, one that was intended to support any, if not all, paw-parents out there. 

It first begins via Totto’s Instagram account. Through there, Ivy has been able to meet lots of Singaporean pet owners. Their joy and eagerness to talk about their furkids motivate Ivy to care for them too. In the event she notices something amiss e.g a furkid has fallen ill, she reaches out to them to render support, and perhaps offer a little gift as an encouragement. 

She also offers support inspired by Totto’s quirks. For instance, she notes that Totto is a fussy eater. Hence, for pet owners whose furkids may equally be as fussy, she is also willing to share samples for products that are “Totto-approved”. “Most importantly,” she tells us, “I ensure [the furkids] are not allergic to the said product before I offer them to their owners!”

Photo Credit: Instagram @totto_maltipoo

Her contagious sense of generosity is not left unacknowledged by the larger Singaporean pet community. In the case of @cottonsim_themaltipoo, their paw-mum has kindly adopted Ivy’s ‘Pay-it-forward’ program as a means to show her gratitude and thanks to Ivy who had helped her through difficult times. Ivy had been by her side when Cotton suffered from a bowel obstruction. As such, the two have remained close friends and continue to spread love with the program. 

Yet, Ivy’s spirit of giving doesn’t stop there.

She also helps to collect donations for various charities or non-profit organisations such as Mdm Wong’s dog shelter. Encouraged by her friend, @mocha.mamashop, Ivy produced over 50 D-I-Y bows and bandanas which were sold to the pet community. Her hard work earned over >$1k in donations and profit, all of which was given to Mdm Wong.

Photo Credit: Instagram @totto_maltipoo

She also helped to promote and generate awareness for Dada, a Singaporean special. Dada had been injured and disabled due to lack of proper treatment as a stray. His new paw-mum met Ivy through a giveaway application. From there, Ivy had been touched by Dada’s story and wanted more people to know about it. Leveraging the power of social media, Ivy boosted Dada’s plight on Totto’s Instagram, which resulted in a mass number of followers almost overnight. Though Dada has since passed, his paw-mum continues to share his story, creating art through commissions, and donating to dog shelters as a way of remembering him. 

Photo Credit: Instagram @dada.the.brave . Image features Totto (top right), Dada (left) and their friend, Pony (center)

Despite the positive impacts she has done on the pet community, Ivy remains humble and down to earth. When questioned about the expenses incurred as a result of her munificence, she informs us, “It is nothing compared to what I reap in the process. I am so grateful to all these pet owners who have given me a chance to step into their lives. I am more than blessed to continue what I am doing”.

Perhaps, these pet owners are blessed too, to have met her.

Check out Ivy and Totto’s Instagram account. Her encounters with pet owners via her ‘Pay-it-forward’ program can be found in a highlight reel titled ‘My Vision’.

Let us know what you think about Ivy’s generosity. In the meantime, remember to cherish your blessings, and pay it forward.

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Community Stories

Introducing Dog Runs!

Morning running with dog and partner

What is a dog run?

A dog run refers to a fenced up area where dogs are kept within a safe confined space and off the leash
to get their daily exercise and to socialise with other dogs and dog owners.

Most of the time, dog runs are seen as a social space for both dogs and their owners. Dogs can run,
interact and play off-leash with other dogs while being safely contained and segregated from other
people enjoying the park.

As it is a requirement by law for owners to leash up dogs in Singapore’s public spaces, dog runs help to provide open outdoor spaces for cooped-up apartment dwelling dogs to have the freedom they need to run and have fun.

Dog runs are managed by different agencies and one of them is the National Parks Board (NParks). Dog runs -managed by NParks- are usually situated within parks. They consist of turfed lawns, which provide a more natural environment for dogs to explore a variety of textures and spaces.

Dogs need to stay active, exercise and release pent up energy. Active dogs will stay in shape, experience less anxiety and depression and have overall better physical and mental well beings with outdoor stimulation.

Visiting a Dog Run

You can now visit any of NParks’ 15 dog runs located all throughout Singapore in the parks. There are also, other public dog runs that are situated in HDB spaces and on state land as well as private dog runs managed by private entities across the island.

Larger NParks dog runs are situated at West Coast Park, Bishan – Ang Mo Kio Park, Jurong Lake Gardens and East Coast Park. They are extremely popular with dog owners and are well used throughout the day. Many dog owners come all the way across the island to use these dog runs.

The dog runs have also developed into a common meeting space for dog owners of all backgrounds and interests.

For Non-Pet Owners

Non-pet owners can certainly visit the dog run, however, we would advise them to exercise caution and be aware of the Do’s and Don’ts in the dog run. Non-pet owners must first be comfortable with the presence of dogs that may come in various sizes, breeds and behaviours. Being able to recognise and watch out for certain behaviours of dogs will be important to mitigate the potential issues in a dog run. Always ask the owner for permission before approaching an unknown dog.

Bringing in human or dog food into the dog run is also discouraged. Dogs may get attracted by the food and start to crowd around the visitor. This can lead to instances of dogs behaving aggressively in order to get to the food and owners may not be around in time to control their dogs.

Visitors should avoid approaching nor presenting any food to dogs without prior consent from their owners. Interaction with dogs should not be forced upon the dogs, especially those that may seem fearful or aggressive.

Visitors should also avoid bringing their young children into dog runs to play with the dogs. Even if under parental supervision, dogs may accidentally injure young children through play.

In short, although you may still enter, we would still advise and highly discourage non-pet owners from entering the dog runs. It would be wiser to leave the space for dogs and dog owners who need it. As an alternative, non-pet owners can observe the dogs from the outside instead.

Mantaining a Dog Run

Dog runs are usually maintained through frequent grass cutting, cleansing of the dog run area and emptying of bins. This is to ensure that all visitors (dogs and their humans) have a safe and clean space for exercising and socialising.

Sufficient shaded resting and seating spaces are also made available when possible.

Now that you know what a dog run is, it’s time to explore!

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Community Stories

Taking care of a dog with allergies and a sensitive tummy.

This article is an expansion of Sherry’s submission for Pawjourr’s #WhatsYourReality campaign. We recommend reading her original submission before proceeding with the article [link].

Pets are just like us too! They too can develop allergies and tummy sensitivities.

For Sherry, raising her dog who has both, poses a challenge and a learning lesson.

See how she navigates the world of pet parenting while keeping Princess’ sensitivities in mind. Perhaps you can do the same too!

Diagnosing an Allergy

I was initially unaware that dogs could develop allergies, as my previous 2 doggies did not have any. 

For Princess, we fed her lamb kibbles when she was a puppy. At that time, I bought a new brand for her to try out because I heard it was a better brand. The new brand offered chicken kibbles. Unfortunately, she vomited a half-hour after taking it. Brought her to the vet and was told to feed plain porridge with chicken as the vet initially assumed she was not used to the new flavour. I fed her porridge and steamed chicken but she vomited again. I then switched and fed her lamb kibbles and she was fine once more. No vomiting or diarrhoea after that. 

That’s when the vet mentioned it’s an allergic reaction to chicken.

This is shown through how she vomits after taking chicken. She will also experience diarrhoea after taking pork. In addition to allergies, Princess has a very sensitive tummy too. For example, a higher vegetable content in a meal will cause diarrhoea.

Photo Credit: Instagram @princess_themixed

A few years back, I switched her to freeze-dried food. Even with the same protein from different brands, I still have to check the % of meat and vegetable content. I only feed freeze-dried food with at least 95% meat content now. I once tried a freeze-dried brand before which has 85% meat content. It caused her body and breath to stink so badly and her poop became very soft. The vet checked her poop and said she digested too many vegetables! And the tripe makes her body & breath stinky. 

Most dogs will probably not have these reactions as these superfoods are pretty good for dogs and the amount is pretty minimal but I guess her tummy is just too sensitive.

Dog allergies can manifest themselves in different ways. Common symptoms include redness of the eyes and throat or excessive itching on the body. As such, do consult your vets for more information.

Managing your pet’s dietary needs

I exercise extreme caution when feeding new treats or food. These are the steps I take.

Photo Credit: Instagram @princess_themixed
  1. If I’m feeding anything new even if it’s a familiar protein but from a different brand, I’ll avoid giving anything else and monitor for any reactions for a few days. This applies even for meal transitions.
  2. I make sure to check every single ingredient included and ensure she can eat them before feeding. Certain herbs like rosemary will also cause her to have diarrhoea. I’m very careful to the point that even though some freeze dried contains the minimum amount of garlic which is supposedly good as a dewormer for dogs (Garlic is toxic for dogs for your info), I will still choose not to feed Princess. A small amount can cause a huge reaction in her. Even liquid medications from the vet can cause her poop colour to change to the liquid medicine colour when it doesn’t affect other dogs. Now you know what I mean!
  3. Lots of monitoring and keeping a close watch on her. Not to mention spending a lot on vet bills because it’s not just her allergies but also how much her tummy can tolerate each ingredient she consumes which is hard to predict until we do trial & error.

Moving Forward

Currently, I am feeding Princess Bixbi Rawbble for freeze-dried food and The Grateful Pet for home-cooked meals now. These choices were first made based on numerous recommendations & reviews from dog owners. 

As mentioned, I make sure to read through every ingredient in the list and do my research. Since it looks good & safe for her, I got a pack or two to try out for about 2 weeks to see how Princess’s tummy reacts to it. For treats, I stick to single-ingredient or limited ingredient treats to be on the safe side.

No sugar, no salt and no glycerine or other nasties. 

Thank you Sherry for her valuable advice, and a great story.

If you, or your pet have a story to share, do reach out and let us know as well!

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Community Stories

No travel, no fear! What my dog taught me about rediscovering travel joys amidst a Pandemic.

This article was written in collaboration with @lucky.thechion.

Hello! I am Lucky’s paw-rent, a chihuahua x papillion pup.

Dealing with Travel blues

When the pandemic first broke out in Singapore, my entire family was basically stranded, unable to travel back to our home country, South Korea for vacation. We knew for a fact that it was overly risky and that the situation in Korea was surely more serious than in Singapore. Everyone was in a frenzy really, and so was my family, we did not leave the home for over 5 cases! 

Now that we look back, perhaps it was ridiculous but we knew it was serious and believed that we were doing the right thing.

Regardless, losing the ability to travel hit our family quite hard, and we were dying to find a way to travel again.

As there are students in our family, them not being able to study at school bored everyone out, and we were all being lazy at home. Our family members are generally active people and enjoy going to gyms and swimming pools. Restaurants were a must for us as well. Since they were all closed at that point, we felt like we had nothing to do.

Exploring with Lucky

We started Lucky’s Instagram account during the pandemic as we believed it offered a great way to connect with other pet influencers in Singapore who were experiencing similar events to us. That’s also how we discovered Pawjourr, which we are very grateful to have found. Through these platforms, we were able to connect with people and learned ways in which we could be more productive throughout the pandemic. 

As such, we were encouraged to visit the Botanical Gardens of Singapore, which inspired us to exercise more frequently. It was nice to know that such places existed. Beach walks were also so peaceful and enjoyable to be. We thank Lucky for helping us discover that.

Soon enough, we started to visit places in Singapore such as the East Coast Park, Botanical Garden, Marina Bay and Barrage. We also took walks around Orchard Road more often, only to realise that we had clearly been missing out on all the real fun of Singapore!

Lucky being with us was definitely crucial to that fun. Our family would rather be at places with action and excitement which a stroll to the park may not suffice. But by having Lucky with us, we had something to pay attention to, take pictures for, and to feed if they got hungry on the way, causing outbursts of laughter among us.

Importance of staying mobile

Staying mobile and active really helps to provide a sense of hope. 

Over the course of the past few years, which has flown by quite fast as we write this, we had gotten angry at what was needed of us to suppress the pandemic numerous times, and Lucky’s presence helps us deal with it. 

We need travel! But Lucky can’t go with us anyways. Restaurants need to re-open! Lucky isn’t allowed in many anyways. The students must go to school and the parents must go to work! At least we get to spend more time with Lucky. 

Rather, with Lucky, we were able to reinvigorate a newfound appreciation for the places in Singapore. Moving and exploring such places allowed us to taste a glimpse of travel. Furthermore, Lucky’s fun and joyous presence helped to further plant the seeds of hope and appreciation in all of us.

If you’d like to take your pet out on a walk around Singapore, I’d recommend doing these:

  • First, the obvious– keep your pet on a leash that fits them well so that they won’t impose a threat to others.
  • Keep them close to you just in case. Even if they’re usually calm and loving, they have the potential to attack a person if they feel the need to. 
  • Pick up their waste after them, we need to appreciate and help the work of the cleaners.
  • Make sure they have enough water and food to prevent dehydration and hunger. And
  • Lastly, just have fun, and make the most of your time with your pets, and don’t complain, because they’re happy to be there with you than alone while you work.

Through Lucky, my family and I have developed something common to laugh about, to bicker about, to talk about. He has grown into the centre of all our conversations and has kept our voice up in the house throughout the months.

We are forever grateful that he could bring us tighter together like this. 

I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

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Community Stories

What does it mean to grieve and fall back in love? A pet owner’s journey in rediscovering love amidst the Pandemic.

This article was written in collaboration with Karly, owner of @fluffy_boy_bear on Instagram.

My name is Karly, and I live in Canada. I currently own an adorable pyreneesXpup named Bear.

2 years go, my family and I watched as the pandemic in Canada approached us like a tidal wave. Every day, we monitored the news and heard about how close and how fast the virus was coming. We stocked up on supplies and got a new job that wouldn’t be considered non-essential so we could maintain working. We also chose to pull our daughter from school and homeschool her after the shutdowns.

We had no sense of certainty on what the next day would bring in terms of laws, freedom, travel, product availability, etc.

Losing Bentley

Our previous cockapoo was named Bentley. He was our first family dog. We adopted him at the age of 7. He was my shadow, my best friend, my security guard, my comfort. He was extremely under-socialized. We made it a goal to ensure he would not bark at every person that walks by our house. He was a challenge but one that we accepted with lots of love and determination.

He did not eat or drink during his first week at home. We vaccinated him quickly, put him on good food, took him for grooming, cuddled every night in bed and eventually managed to gain his trust. 

After that, he was like a missing piece to the puzzle. Once he became himself and showed us his personality (as undertrained as that may be!) we were obsessed. 

Unfortunately for us, he passed away. When we lost him, I felt like I lost my best friend. My shadow disappeared. My days felt empty. I stopped going for trail walks. I stopped going outside first thing in the morning. I stopped looking at other people’s dogs and cried when I did. I had never been so heartbroken in my life. I tried to cope with the grief by believing that he had the most amazing end of his life he could have possibly wanted. Filled with love, energy, health, exercise, treats, cuddles.

Yet with grief, we knew we needed to somehow fill his void.

Finding Bear

Adopting Bear was not a decision we took lightly.

When Bentley was around we would conspire to get another Cockapoo (dog breed) after him. We loved the breed. But when the time came, it hit too close to home for us to even consider thinking about the same breed. We needed a complete change. So we settled for a Pyrenees cross, either a puppy or an elder, large dog.

We took our time to search for a suitable dog. It took a while, but eventually, we saw Bear for the first time and knew that he was what we needed.

We instantly set up a meet and greet. His previous foster home consisted of 7 year old hence we felt assured that he would be good with our oldest daughter.  We also brought over our newborn to see how he acted with her. 

When we first met him he gave us a jump, hug, kiss, and instantly we were sold. The first thing we noticed was how big he was. We were warned he was big. But he was huge.

Secondly his hair. He has an Einstein hairdo, that you can’t help but love.

Third, how happy his energy was. He was exactly what we were missing and the energy we wanted back in our home. He was in our car on the way home that very same day. We met his foster mom outside of a school, took him for a little walk, gave him some love, then loaded up.

Healing during a Pandemic

Bear’s arrival helped to provide routine through uncertain times. We were happy to be back outside in the morning, at the park in the afternoon, going into pet stores, going to dog parks. We regained forms of socialization that we thought we lost.

Bear also promotes calm and happy energies which was a refreshing take amidst the annoyance and unsure ways of the pandemic.

Most importantly, having Bear helped to clear my impressions of love and grief.

Truly, I would never have Bentley back and that fills me with grief, but Bear provides a new kind of love. With him, we are constantly discovering new traits and routines to love. 

Of course, we miss Bentley and will always miss him. He was our “grumpy old man”. He would bark at anyone and anything he didn’t know. He curled up on the couch and slept. He never ran always walked with us. He slept all night in our bed. He lost lots of teeth and could only consume soft food. 

But, Bear is our energetic baby boy. He helped us to find, such a different form of love. 

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Community Stories

How to Find Your Lost Cat

This article was written by Lauretta Williams, co-founder of Pawmaw.com.

Finding a lost cat is a difficult thing, but not impossible. Before you start producing placards
and knocking on neighbours’ doors, start your search at home.

You’ve probably come to this page because you can’t find your pet. First and foremost, do
not be alarmed. There’s a strong probability your cat is still around and will show up again
soon. Moreover, 15% of cat owners lose them in the first 5 years, according to PubMed.

Your cat is nowhere within the house? They either got outside when you opened the door
and you didn’t notice, or they opened a window or located an exit and are now outside.

If you were lucky enough to see him or her flee, you might have some idea of where they
could be. However, how can you locate a lost cat if you’ve no idea where they went?

Photo by Mitchell Orr on Unsplash

How to Locate a Missing Cat

Finding a missing cat is tricky, but coaxing them back into the house could be much more
difficult. Your cat may prefer to remain in their hiding place but here are some actionable tips
on how to find your cat.

1. Tempt your cat with their favourite meal

Owners should use food to entice their cats out, according to Albrecht. You can even put
food just inside the door and then close it when your cat returns.

If the cat returns at night, you might consider providing food and water outside the house.

2. Search around your home

Cats usually hide behind porches, cars, or other things in the vicinity of their houses. In
reality, 75% of the cats were discovered within 500 meters, or a third of a mile, of their
escape site.

18% were hiding right outside their house’s front door. There is a distinction in behaviour
between indoor cats and cats who have regular access to the outdoors.

75% of the latter travelled up to nearly a mile from home, possibly because they feel more
comfortable outside.

3. Create eye-catching posters for awareness

Post large and eye-catching posters around the neighbourhood. For example, use bright
coloured paper with your lost pet’s information. Post information about your missing pet on
social media platforms and lost pet sites such as Pawmaw, Facebook, Nextdoor.com, and
PetAmberAlert.com.

4. Construct a trap

Set up humane traps in areas where you can check them frequently; animal shelters
frequently rent out these traps to the general public.

By leaving doors open, you can utilize your house or garage as a trap. Check out all of the
shelters in your area, not just the ones closest to you.

5. Submit a help request

Enlist the assistance of friends, neighbors, or a professional missing cat locator. Anyone
looking for the cat should be warned that if they find them, they should stay calm and not
chase them! It’s better if the cat’s owner approaches them, especially since the cat is likely to
be terrified.

Exchange mobile phone numbers with everyone involved in the search, and make sure
everyone has a flashlight, even if it’s daytime.

6. Look for warm spots

Your cat may become trapped behind a heating appliance, crawl into a heating vent, or even
jump it onto the engine of a car from underneath if the weather is chilly.

7. Keep an eye out in case your cat returns

Over the next few days, Look around the inside as well. Your cat could become trapped or injured beneath furniture,
in a closed room or closet, or in an attic or basement that you rarely visit.

It could just be hiding, especially if your house or area is currently filled with loud,
unexpected noises.

Recliner chairs, beds or mattress boxes, the chimney, dresser drawers, tangled draperies,
behind books in such a bookcase, behind access panels, or appliances are all good places
to look.

How do you keep a cat from fleeing?

Hopefully, with the help of these tips, you were able to locate your cat. What can you do now
to keep your cat from fleeing and disappearing again?

Here’s how to keep from having another nightmare:

  • With a GPS cat tracker, you can keep an eye on your cat in real-time and create safe
  • zones to receive alerts if they leave their typical territory.
  • Make a safe haven for your cat.
  • Make every effort to keep your cat entertained and happy at home.
  • To prevent your cats from fleeing owing to their intense mating instinct, spay or
  • neuter them.
  • Make sure your cat is microchipped or wears a collar with an ID tag so you can easily reunite if he or she finds up at a shelter.

Wrapping up

Don’t give up on your missing cat, whatever the reason for their disappearance may be.
Some cats can be gone for days, weeks, or even months before returning home.

If you require professional assistance, you may always contact a pet detective to assist you
in your quest. The good news is that according to studies, approximately 74% of missing
cats are eventually reunited with their families.

So, until your feline companions are back in your arms, try to remain calm and positive.

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Community Stories

Your Guide to Grooming an Aggressive Cat

In one of her Instagram posts, Saedah details her experience with a pet groomer regarding her cat, Zain. She details how she was refused service at an undisclosed groomer on account of Zain’s aggression. In an interview with us, she also mentions how important grooming was to upkeep the quality of his fur, which in turn affects his health and well being. 

“Zain’s fur is really matted and we have a hard time managing it at home as he does not allow me to comb or brush him. Many times I have to wait for him to fall asleep before I can attempt to brush out his matted fur. We have resorted to shaving once however, it did not seem to help as his fur grows out way too fast. As a result, he develops frequent hairball problems too.

Photo Credit: Instagram @zainthemainecoon

We intended for the Groomers to assist us with this issue. It was disappointing to be rejected. Groomers should be trained and well-equipped to manage aggressive cats. Grooming is a professional service that cats truly need, especially for cats like Zain who strongly needs the service. Only a cat groomer can help. It appears redundant if the groomer is not ready to offer their services to aggressive cats. Who else can I turn to? Vets do not entertain hair matting issues.” 

Saedah is not alone in her struggles to seek out grooming services for her aggressive cats. Owners often struggle to locate a suitable groomer for their cats. In addition, grooming centres can charge cat owners additional fees, which in turn, may further exacerbate the owner’s stress. 

Luckily, Saedah eventually located a suitable groomer: Pet Pat Grooming. 

With a perfect 5.0 Star score on Google Reviews, Pet Pat Grooming is located in Singapore and offers over 5 tailored services for their kitty customers. In particular, they promise to provide a low-stress handling experience which helps to greatly reduce cats’ stress levels.

Jen of Pet Pat has kindly agreed to share her insight on providing grooming care to cats. We also inquired regarding her experience with aggressive cats to take a better look at what it entails.

Why is Grooming Important?

Matted fur develops due to inflamed and dry skin. Regular grooming schedules help to reduce such risks and keep cats clean right down to their skin. Plus, maintain that their fur is matt-free.  

Photo Credit: Instagram @petpat.sg

Cats do like to be clean. They’re much happier. Imagine if you never took a shower or brushed your hair. That’s what an ungroomed cat feels like. They turn into a much more social creature when they’re clean.

What agitates cats when they visit a Groomer?

From the cat’s perspective, they are being cautious. Especially in a new environment, they are looking out for potential predators here. As a result, they can go into fight, flight, or freeze mode.

Your salon offers a low-stress handling experience. How do you accommodate this?

When the cat is showing signs of aggression, we designate a single groomer to handle them alone.  Occasionally, we may do a two-person groom which involves the handler and a groomer. Our priority is to go as fast and safe as possible to minimise the cat’s exposure to unfamiliar territory. 

We always do pre groom assessments for our clients. Find out as much info as possible. Once the expectations are established, We can work our magic. We introduce the cat calmly to the grooming process. We want it to be a pleasant experience for both the cat, and its owner.

Lead us through a grooming session with an aggressive cat.

There are 4 things to note before grooming cats.

  1. Assess the fur situation.
Photo Credit: Instagram @petpat.sg

Aggression is not caused without reason. At times, there is a reason for their behaviour. For example, we once had a customer named MoMo who had several large matts on his body. It was extremely tight on his skin and was impossible to comb out. In such situations, the cat will definitely respond in an aggressive manner due to the intense discomfort they are feeling. Certain fur conditions require a different approach to grooming.

2. Protect yourselves.

Cats can have you out for lunch! Regardless, our service does not believe in using restraints as it might stress the cat even further. Instead, we ensure we are well-protected before handling aggressive cats. Dog handling gaiters (a.k.a Dragon Slayer Gloves haha!) can be necessary. We also use an Elizabeth collar, and a towel for extra padding.

3. Act with firmness.

Establish an equal distribution of control over the situation. When a cat is trying to intimidate vocally, the best course of action for a groomer is to not be intimidated and act with confidence and firmness.

4. Take breaks and respect the cat’s need for space.

Most importantly, is to respect the cat. We might also opt to take many 5 minute breaks in between grooming to give the cat sufficient time to cool down and rest. It also helps us to think of the next move. Regardless, remember to treat the cat with the same amount of understanding and respect as you would a human!

Photo Credit: Instagram @zainthemainecoon

When we groomed Zain (Saedah’s cat), we first introduced him to happy things such as treats, toys, catnip and more. We spoke in hushed tones and patted him occasionally to provide reassurance. He was a lot calmer at his session with us and showed no signs of aggression! He was a very good boy.

We always advise pet owners to do their research before committing to a groomer. Things you can take note of include:

  • Certifications or professional training

To be a cat groomer is very different from being a dog’s! Make sure you locate a groomer that is competent to handle the type of pets you own.

  • Salon Hygiene
  • Cats-only environment

How can we do our part to take care of our pets at home?

Brushing your pet’s fur at home is a great way to maintain your cats in between grooming sessions. 

Photo Credit: Instagram @petpat.sg

Here’s how you can do so:

  1. Begin by creating a positive association with your brush. Place it near your cat and reward them with a treat when he/she starts to investigate it.
  2. Build their association with the brush. When you are interacting with your cat in a calm way, allow your cat to sniff and rub against it when they wish.
  3. After a few days doing so, or when you think your cat is ready, stroke your cat with the brush in your hand. Hold the brush out for your cat to sniff again. If they rub against it reward them with a treat and praise them with more physical attention.
  4. Once your cat is actively seeking the brush you can gently move it against your cats face. Gently and slowly stroke in the direction of the cats’ coat for 2 minutes a session.
  5. If your cat is relaxed and enjoying the experience try grooming different areas. Cats love the neck and head region and also the back and base of the tail. All the best!

Special thanks to Saedah of @zainthemainecoon for sharing her experience with us. Visit her Instagram.

Pet Pat Grooming

183 Jln Pelikat, Singapore 537643

Opening hours: Every Wednesday to Sunday

Website | Instagram

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Community Stories

Animal therapy: How my rabbit helped me to calm down in the face of HBL

A cheaper alternative to a real therapist

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGZc20ED5Bh/ Typical playtime with my bunbun <3

When Singapore went into circuit breaker near April last year, schools nationwide announced that students will not be attending lessons in school but rather they would be accessing their lectures and tutorials from the comfort of their homes. Adapting to full-time HBL was no easy feat, as it was a huge transition for many students across the world.

For me personally, at first I was thrilled to hear that I do not have to come to school physically for lessons (since it was banned) as I do not need to wake up early to travel to school and I do not need to be reminded of the unhappiness in the classroom in late 2019. Little did I know that learning through a computer proved to be way harder for me. While Year 2 of Polytechnic is known to be the most stressful year, it was more stressful for me as compared to previous cohorts since it takes more effort to memorise lecture content for exams if taught through HBL than if it is taught face-to-face. Completing assignments was also much harder as it is inconvenient to arrange consultation sessions with your lecturer who is also working from home and adapting to the handling of their heavy workload and overloaded schedules without going to the office which is the best place for asking your lecturer questions regarding your assignment/presentations/exams.

With the stressors of an overloaded academic schedule and adapting to full-time HBL taking a toll on me, my mental health took a nosedive. I realised how much of 2019 I took for granted. I was about to lose hope, until one fine guest lecture I attended on Zoom, which gave me an idea of how to heal mentally.

Petting Whiskers helps me to relax

During a guest lecture for my programme planning module, the guest speaker was answering a question posted by someone from my cohort during the Q&A segment. I could not remember exactly what the question and response was, but the guest speaker did mention these two words “animal therapy” when talking about the types of therapy his agency does to clients. He mentioned that animal therapy is commonly used as companions for the elderly, mental health, disability and children’s settings in social services. They would allow clients to interact with the animals directly by letting them carry, pet and play with animals like birds, kittens, puppies, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and so on.

Hearing about animal therapy sparked my interest and made me want to try this out for myself. Fortunately we already have a rabbit as a house pet and she has been with us for more than three years as of this writing. Since Whiskers is very fond of me and enjoys my company, interacting with her was easier and it ensured a smooth bonding experience.

Whiskers likes to relax between daddy’s legs

Whenever I feel stressed from assignments or projects I would let Whiskers out of the cage so that she could play with us. Spending time with my rabbit allowed me to forget the stressful feeling of submitting an assignment in two weeks. My bun would run around the house and expect head rubs from us which forced us to focus all of our energy on her and take our minds off our books for a while, helping to relieve stress.

When we observe Whiskers’ antics, it allowed us to destress

At first, my mum did not know what animal therapy was until I introduced the term to her. She was rather surprised that such a thing existed until she searched it up and learnt the benefits of animal therapy. Just like me, my mum really agrees that playing with Whiskers helps to relieve stress, cause after spending time with my bun we would feel a lot better than before. When you already have a pet, you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on an actual therapist because your pet can be your therapist! Not only does it cost less overall, but it is also more convenient, cause why leave the house to visit the therapist physically when you already have a therapist in your home in the form of a cute furry little friend? <3

She will always roam on our sofa 🙂

Aside from handling your rabbit’s poops and shedding of their fur, spending time with your bun can actually make you feel a lot better, even when you are sad. When your family or friends have never been there for you, your rabbit can be your best friend, just like music is to Taylor Swift. 🙂

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Let’s Protect our Loved Ones with Pet Insurance!

The month of August marks a special event for Singaporeans.

On the 9th of August, Singaporeans gather around to celebrate their National Day. Due to heightened pandemic alerts, celebrations were held online. As such, many Singaporeans took this opportunity to spend some time with their loved ones in the comfort and safety of their homes. 

Since adopting Dexter, the 9th of August marks more than 1 special occasion for Shermaine. Here’s what she had to say:

What does Singapore mean to you and how will you be celebrating National Day this year?

Growing up in Singapore, this country symbolises comfort and security for me. 

Especially during these trying times, I am glad that our pandemic situation has not spiralled out of control. I feel assured that we are reasonably protected in Singapore!

I also enjoy the peace and security we have in Singapore that I think we should definitely not take for granted! 

This year, the performances have been postponed, but I believe my family and I would still be up to watch the parade! Definitely can’t miss out on the flypast, am I right? ?

Afterwards, it would just be a really chill day. I intend to catch up on some family time and celebrate my little monkey’s* birthday! I ordered a birthday cake for him so I am pretty excited about that. It will be a small celebration though since we are unable to invite his doggy friends. 

*Little Monkey is the nickname Shermaine has for her pomeranian dog, Dexter.

Oh wow, what a surprise! What does it mean to celebrate both Dexter and Singapore’s birthday on the same day?

I was relatively surprised too when I found out that he is a National Day baby. It is great because I can be sure I would always have time to celebrate his birthday since it is a Public Holiday. Plus, enjoy some fireworks! (though not this year) 

Dexter is my second dog after the sudden passing of my first dog named Junior. Hence, I understand wholeheartedly the importance of cherishing every moment I have with him. He is an integral part of my family so I always feel the need to protect him. Especially since he is dependent on me for his living.

He is my baby and I will do anything to keep him safe and happy!

That is so sweet! I can sense that you share a deep bond with Dexter. What are some steps you take to protect your furkid?

I bring him out for regular checkups which are super important. I also believe in the importance of vaccinating your pets. Since Dexter is relatively small, I have to be sure not to over-vaccinate him. Just the essential shots to reduce his susceptibility to illnesses. Prevention is better than cure!

My expenditure for vet visits is constantly increasing. Based on my past experience with Junior, medical costs are always a concern. From the pet owners I have talked to, most of them recommended pet insurance. I think it works similarly to human’s insurance, right?

If we purchase insurance for our family members, and Dexter is family, then certainly I should be getting him some too!

Speaking of pet insurance, have you heard about Aon Happy Tails?

Yes, I have!

I heard that toy and small breeds like Pomeranians are very prone to joint issues such as luxating patella. Dexter is one of them. For an active dog like him who is constantly jumping and running around, I worry about him constantly. However, I am aware that luxating patella is only covered by Aon Happy Tails pet insurance if it is not a pre-existing condition.

That being said, for dog owners who are extremely concerned about their dog’s safety- I would recommend looking into Aon Happy Tails pet insurance. Even though Dexter’s luxating patella would not be covered, I would still consider purchasing it, in case he develops further issues in the future.

Plus, I’ve always heard good recommendations and reviews regarding Aon Happy Tails. Just remember to cut down on the BBT* so that your little one is well protected! #WorthIt

* BBT refers to bubble tea, one of Shermaine’s favourite drinks.

Aon Happy Tails pet insurance covers a wide range of illnesses and medical conditions such as:

  • Luxating Patella
  • Hip and Elbow Dyplasia
  • Cherry Eye
  • Glaucoma
  • Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
  • Femoral Head and Neck Excision

** DISCLAIMER: There is a ninety (90) days waiting period for sicknesses and a twelve (12) month waiting period for Specified Hereditary and Congenital sicknesses from the policy’s first commencement during which sicknesses claims are not payable.

During the twelve (12) month waiting period, if conditions or symptoms of luxating patella begin to emerge, it will be considered a pre-existing condition and will no longer be covered by Aon Happy Tails. For Shermaine’s case, since luxating patella is already an existing condition for Dexter, it would not be covered under her purchase of Aon Happy Tails pet insurance!

For more information, you can also check out their dedicated online portal which helps pet parents obtain a library of pet-related information, as well as ensure their sign up process is smooth and easy to access. You can also access their pricing plans via their website. Simply enter your details and get a quote!

With Aon Happy Tails, rest assured your pet is in safe hands.

You can find out more about Aon Happy Tails pet insurance via their Instagram or Website.

Follow Shermaine and Dexter on Instagram.

** All information found within this article is subject to the terms and conditions of Aon Happy Tails.

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Community Stories

I was separated from my puppy for months due to the Pandemic!

In Singapore, a mandated lockdown occurred mid-2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The lockdown, often referred to as Circuit Breaker (CB), saw citizens staying at home for a prolonged period of time.

Kelly, the owner of a newly acquired puppy named Pork Chop, saw herself separated from her furkid as a result of this restriction. We reached out to her to learn more about her experience.

Hi there! Tell us more about yourself and your relationship with Pork.

Hello! My name is Kelly and I got Porkchop with my partner about 2 years ago back in Nov 2019. Our original plan was to get a dog after we got married and moved into our BTO but Porkchop was too cute to resist. 

Since we got our dog earlier than intended (+not married = living separately) we had to find a way to make it work. My family is pretty strict with pets and we have family members with a history of asthma so they were quite against having a pet around the house. 

Hence, we decided to have Porkchop live with my partner and his family. Luckily, they are dog lovers so it worked out pretty well. I would then visit them pretty often, about 2-3x a week to help with tasks such as grooming and walking him so it would be less taxing for the family. Sometimes when I end work early on weekdays I would drive down so I could see him for a couple of hours.

What caused you to be separated from Pork during Circuit Breaker (CB)?

Since we lived in separate households, I could no longer visit him when CB was announced.

How did you feel knowing that you would be seperated from Pork during this time?

I was immediately devastated!

Porkchop was still a puppy so I was very bummed out that I would not be able to witness his growth for a long time. Perhaps the main challenge was having to readjust to the new normal. Afterwards, the government announced a lockdown extension for another 4 weeks. 

That was really tough.

How did you maintain your relationship with Pork, despite not seeing each other for 4 weeks?

My partner would send me videos/photos of Porkchop every day.  We met through video call as well. However, it wasn’t as successful because dogs don’t seem to care about technology.  Other than that I don’t think he missed me much, it was mostly just me missing him LOL. 

Do you have any advice for pet owners who might be undergoing the same experience?

Hang in there, safety is still very important. And hopefully, we can all do our part to ensure this will not happen to anyone else hehe.

Kelly and Porkchop have been reunited since writing this article. Porkchop continues to grow into an adorable, healthy boy and has recently celebrated his 2nd birthday. Follow him on his Instagram and to keep updated on his antics.